The newsroom includes access to CHA News, which provides timely information to members every Monday and Thursday and is at the core of CHA benefits. In addition, it is also home to resources such as toolkits and talking points designed to help member hospitals and health systems communicate with internal and external audiences on a range of current health care-related issues. Links to CHA media statements and press releases can also be found here.
Newsroom
As Pandemic Wanes, CHA Social Media Campaign Reminds Californians That Care Can’t Wait
To coincide with the state’s June 15 reopening, CHA has launched a social media campaign with updated messaging around emergency room avoidance.
These social media posts are meant to encourage people to get back to routine care now that COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the decline and vaccinations rates are high. This Twitter and Facebook campaign is scheduled to run for four weeks.
Supreme Court Throws Out Challenge to Affordable Care Act
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a lawsuit seeking to strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA), finding that Republican-led states and individual plaintiffs behind the case lacked legal standing to challenge the law.
The Trump administration had supported the lawsuit, which argued that the ACA was rendered unconstitutional after Congress got rid of the penalty for not having health insurance in 2017. The vote was 7 to 2 to reject the lawsuit, with Justices Alito and Gorsuch dissenting.
CHA Education Events
- June 17: Member Forum on Draft Medi-Cal Managed Care RFP
- June 23: White Bagging — Medication Distribution Payer Changes Webinar
- June 25: Provider Relief Funds Updates Webinar
- The Hospital Quality Institute’s “Care for the Caregiver” webinar is available as an on-demand recording.
For more information about CHA education programs, visit calhospital.org/education-publications.
HRSA Provides Funding to Rural Health Clinics for COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issued $424.7 million in funding to over 4,200 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for COVID-19 testing and mitigation, providing $100,000 per RHC. Funds will be used to maintain and increase COVID-19 testing, expand access to testing for rural residents and broaden efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus in ways tailored to their local communities. HRSA plans to award $35.3 million in additional funding to eligible RHCs later this summer.
Additional information on HRSA’s allocation to RHCs for COVID-19 testing and mitigation is available on the HRSA website.
HRSA Awards to Help Bolster California’s Behavioral Health Workforce in Underserved Communities
On June 9, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $22 million in awards to 56 recipients as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training Program for Professionals. California organizations will receive $5,561,042 in funding.
Read moreHospitals No Longer Required to Submit Central Line Insertion Practices Reports
Following a year-and-a-half of advocacy by CHA, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on June 8 announced that it has discontinued Central Line Insertion Practices (CLIP) reporting by hospitals, effective immediately.
Read moreHHS Extends Deadline to Use Certain Provider Relief Funds, Announces Reporting Deadlines
On June 11, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released updated Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting requirements. As requested by CHA and others, the revised guidance extends the time granted to recipients to use the funds. The table below illustrates that the time frame for using and reporting PRFs will now occur on a rolling basis based on when the funds were received.
Federal OSHA Releases COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard but Cal/OSHA Standards Still Apply to CA Hospitals
On June 10, after much fanfare and expectation, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a COVID-19 emergency temporary standard for hospitals and other health care settings. However, existing California guidance and regulations on masking and social distancing must be followed by California hospitals.
Read moreCHA Alert Urges Congress to Protect Program Eligibility for 340B Hospitals During COVID-19 PHE
CDPH Encourages Hospitals to Vaccinate Patients for COVID-19 Prior to Discharge
In an effort to further advance COVID-19 vaccination, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is encouraging general acute care hospitals and acute psychiatric hospitals to vaccinate patients prior to discharge. CDPH makes this recommendation in All Facilities Letter (AFL) 21-20 , which was released on June 9.
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Member Stories
Member Stories highlight the impact that CHA member hospitals make in patients' lives and in the communities they serve.
